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Trek for Boys – FAQs
What is Navigate Adolescence?
Navigate Adolescence, Inc., (formerly Helping Girls Navigate Adolescence, Inc.), is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing kids and their parents the tools needed to navigate adolescence with confidence, resilience, and kindness. HGNA changed its name to reflect that they are now offering programs for boys and for girls.
Will boys and girls be in groups and activities together at Trek?
NO. Trek for Girls and Trek for Boys are both being offered on November 2, 2019 at Geneva Middle School South; however, they are SEPARATE PROGRAMS with different curricula designed specifically for girls and for boys. Females will facilitate the Trek for Girls program. Males will facilitate the Trek for boys program. The discussion panelists in Trek for Girls will be high school girls. The discussion panelists in Trek for Boys will be high school boys. High school volunteers assisting with any groups for girls will be high school girls. High school volunteers assisting with any groups for boys will be high school boys.
When is the registration deadline for Trek?
Registration for Trek will close at 11:59 pm on Monday, October 21, 2019.
Please note, however, that early registration is encouraged as it allows us greater lead-time in hiring facilitators and recruiting volunteers, and gives us greater leverage in negotiating discounts for food and supplies — adding to the overall success of the event, while keeping costs to a minimum.
What does the Trek registration fee include?
Your $25* Trek registration fee includes: three 55-minute break-out sessions led by professional facilitators discussing topics surrounding Friendships, Self-Discovery, and Self-Care. Additionally, each boy will receive a healthy and delicious snack and lunch, a bracelet, and, most importantly, a take-home booklet encompassing all of the tools and techniques your son will learn throughout the day, and so much more!
*Please note: Fee reductions are available based on need.
What is the refund policy?
A full refund will be provided for cancellations made by Monday, October 21, 2019.
What time does check-in begin for Trek and the Parent Presentation?
Check-in for both parents and boys opens at 8:45am at Geneva Middle School SOUTH.
Can I register my son for Trek the day of the event?
Once registration closes, a significant amount of work goes into balancing class sizes with facilitators, printing schedules that are unique to each girl, as well as purchasing and organizing materials by facilitated session. Due to the complexity and energy that goes into these tasks, unfortunately, we cannot accommodate on-site registration.
Can I register for the Parent Presentation the day of the event?
YES. Walk-in registrations for the Parent Presentation are welcome and encouraged for anyone who finds availability in their schedule at the last minute.
Can my son arrive late to and/or leave early from Trek?
For your son to fully benefit from the many aspects of the workshop and to avoid disruptions to your son’s group, we strongly recommend that your son attend the entire event.
Can my son be in the same group as his friend(s)?
We recognize and appreciate the fact that most boys feel uncomfortable attending an event where they will not be paired up with a friend. While there is a chance that your son may be in the same group with a friend, our goal is to give the boys the opportunity to practice building rapport with boys he is meeting for the first time. And rest assured that from the moment the boys arrive in their first session, our high school volunteers and trained, professional facilitators will be working their magic to help your son feel at ease.
Additionally, to foster friendships and enhance the overall experience, your son will remain with the same group throughout the day: learning, sharing thoughtful reflection, and addressing common age-related social and emotional challenges – that will help to build the bond of friendship.
That said, all boys will be together during the Ice Breaker/Opening Ceremony, at lunch, and during the closing, so your son will have opportunities to reconnect with friends during the day.
Please note that if your son is feeling great resistance upon arriving, we encourage you to discretely tell a Trek staff member so that we can have a facilitator meet briefly with your son to allay any fears he may have.
What should my son bring to the event?
To avoid lost or left-behind belongings, we ask that your son LEAVE ALL Personal Items including a PURSE and CELL PHONE at HOME. Please note that the organizers will have cell phones available in the case of an emergency.
Water will be provided; however, if your son prefers, he is welcome to bring a water bottle to the event with her name clearly marked on the bottle.
What if my son has special dietary needs?
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate special dietary needs beyond vegetarian options. We will be trying to offer a gluten-free option. If your son requires a special meal, he may bring a meal from home and drop it off upon arrival in the Facilitator’s Lounge next to the Check-in area. Please be advised that a peanut-free snack will be served during the event.
Any questions can be addressed by emailing us at trek@tricityfamilyservices.org and we will do our best to be of assistance.
What are the qualifications of the facilitators that will be working with my son?
We carefully hand pick each facilitator based on their professional qualifications and their affinity to our mission of raising emotionally healthier adolescent boys.
We prioritize our recruitment of licensed and/or certified professionals, including social workers, counselors, psychologists, and therapists from local school districts and counseling agencies — with the objective of familiarizing our boys with these important and safe go-to people that they can readily speak to during the school year. We also invite other men to facilitate who have experience in teaching and leading groups and who share a commitment to educating youth on social and emotional issues.
How many boys will be in my son’s class?
In order to give the boys the best experience possible, we limit each 55-minute facilitated session to a maximum of 12 boys. We have found that the smaller groups allow the facilitators to address issues in great detail, and gives each boy time to share her thoughts and feelings.
I have a high school-age son who would like to volunteer … how can he get involved?
Supporting our vision of raising emotionally healthier boys, more empowered boys, with each event we strive to provide leadership opportunities for boys, such as managing icebreakers, assisting with small group discussions and activities, participating in panel discussions, and role modeling. Specifically, we look for energetic high school boys who model positive, respectful behavior. If your son is interested in volunteering, please have her email Julie Pouilly, President of the Geneva Coalition for Youth, at genevacoalitionforyouth@gmail.com with the following information:
- Full name
- Name of high school
- Cell phone number and email address
Who runs Trek?
The Trek program was created by Navigate Adolescence (formerly known as HGNA – Helping Girls Navigate Adolescence) of Downers Grove in 2012, the same organization that created Chick Chat, CORE, and HEROES. In 2013, the Geneva Coalition for Youth (GC4Y) and TriCity Family Services (TCFS) partnered with HGNA to bring Chick Chat to the TriCities and surrounding communities. Based on the success of the Trek for Boys program offered in Downers Grove in September, TriCity Family Services and GC4Y are partnering with Navigate Adolescence to help give sixth grade boys a strong foundation for navigating the middle school years.
This event is made possible through the tireless efforts of local parents and high school students, who volunteer their time for the greater good of our sons and our communities.
Will other Navigate Adolescence workshops for boys be offered this school year?
YES. Compass for Boys will be offered to 4th and 5th graders on Saturday, January 26, 2019 (with February 2, 2019 as the rescheduling date in case of cancellation due to inclement weather on January 26th).
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
For questions or concerns, please contact Michelle Clark, TriCity Family Services Director of Emotional Wellness Programs, at trek@tricityfamilyservices.org or at 630-232-1070, ext. 336.